Powder sprayer



March 27, 1934. F. R. MAURER POWDER SPRAYER Filed July 2, 1931 INVENTOCE ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 27,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to spraying devices, and more particularly to a spraying device especially adapted to automatically mix powder or relatively finely granulated material with a flowing stream of water, to enable spraying the same in the form of a solution or mixture. While especially adapted to mixing insecticide powders with water to enable sprayingtrees, plants, etc., my invention is equally adaptable to mixing powder of any sort with a flowing stream of any fluid material.

An important object of this invention is the provision of an insecticide feeding attachment insertable in an ordinary garden hose, (usually near the nozzle end) and containing a powder which when water flows through the hose is gradually mixed therewith to form an insecticide solution which flows from the end of the hose, and which may be sprayed wherever desired by means of an ordinary hose nozzle.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such a spraying attachment for use in conjunction with a hose, in which the degree of saturation of the solution flowing therefrom may be regulated by adjusting the nozzle of the hose.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such an attachment in which the water flowing through the hose is utilized both for directly mixing with the powder and for forcing the powder from the device under the pressure of the Water supply.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an improved means for mixing the powder with the water and for preventing clogging of the powder.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of means whereby the normal capacity of the container which is inserted in the hose may be increased by the addition of an outside auxiliary powder container.

My invention may also be applied in the form of an entirely exterior attachment, which may be secured to the end of a hose rather than inserted I therein, and it is a further object of this invention to provide means'for incorporating the benefits of my improved powder spraying and mixing apparatus in such an exteriorly attachable device utilizable in conjunction with a hose, pipe or other conveyor of flowing water.

Other objects and advantages will beapparent from the following description, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention, and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout'the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in substantially diametrical cross section of a hose and nozzle, a preferred embodiment of my invention being shown inserted in the hose.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows there shown.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows there shown.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the feeder funnel and agitating device which I incorporate in the preferred form of my invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan .view of the tubular powder container which Ipreferably incorporate therein.

Figure 6 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in diametrical cross section of a somewhat modified fcrm of my invention in which an auxiliary powder container is added.

Figure 7 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in substantially diametrical cross section, of another modified form of my invention.

Referring now to the drawing: Reference character 8 designates a hose, which may be of any desired type and size, and 9 a coupling of a common form carried by its end. Secured to the coupling in the customary manner may be a regulatable spray nozzle 20 which also may be of the usual or any desired type.

As shown in Figure 1, I preferably form my spraying attachment in the form of an initially tubular member 10, which may be formed of sheet metal of such diameter that it may easily be slid into a hose, of whatever size it may be desired to use the attachment with. The tube may be slightly flared at its end, as at 11, to facilitate the insertion thereof in the hose with its proper end first, and to prevent the same from sliding thereinto farther than is desired. The tube may be of any convenient length, depending upon the desired capacity thereof, and also upon how near to the nozzle it is necessary to bend the hose. If desired, in order to allow bending of the hose and yet provide a relatively long tube, it may be formed entirely or partly of relatively flexible material, rather than sheet metal, or provided with a flexible extension. The tube 10 is open at its inner end, as indicated at 12, and in order to allow water to also flow alongside the tube, it is formed with a crease or channeled depression'13 extending substantially its entire length, but stopping at a point spaced from the forward or flared extremity 11 of the tube, as at 14. Forwardly of the point 14 at which the crease stops, the tube may be substantially cylindrical. The interior of this portion of the tube constitutes a mixing chamber into which the water is injected from the side, and the resulting turbulence mixes the powder thoroughly with the water. An aperture 15, through which the water enters the mixing chamber, is punched through the channeled portion of the tube substantially at the forward extremity thereof as shown in Figures 1 and 5. Another aperture or apertures, as 16, may be punched through the side wall of the tube adjacent its forward cylindrical extremity, for engagement with a hooked wire or the like, which may be utilized to assist in removing the tube from the hose.

Within the tube 10 and located substantially at the forward terminus of the channel 13, I fit the feeder funnel 17, which is also grooved or creased, as at 18, to accurately fit within the tube, to which it may be secured in any suitable fashion, as by peening, sweat soldering or riveting. The nose of the funnel faces forwardly, and a relatively small aperture is formed therein, which is additionally cut away upon its top surface, substantially in alignment with the aperture 15, as at 19. The powder which is desired to be mixed with the water flowing through the hose is inserted in the portion of the tube (designated 21) rearwardly of the funnel, and the rate at which it can emerge will be seen to be limited by the size of the cut away outlet aperture 19 in the funnel. Extending through and from the end of the funnel is an agitator 22 in the form of relatively fine wire, the projecting extremity of which may be looped, as at 23. The other extremity may be secured to the side of the funnel, as at 24.

Referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that when powder is contained in the tubular portion 21, water flowing through the hose must pass through the channel 13, which is outside of the powder-containing body of the tube 10, thence downwardly through the aperture 15, before it i can escape through the nozzle 20. As it emerges from the aperture 15, with more or less pressure, depending upon the rate at which it is flowing, the water washes into the stream whatever powder may be lying in the end of the funnel beneath the cut away aperture 19. The powder is continuously forced forwardly through the nozzle by the pressure of the water supply, which is exerted against the rear of the powder mass through the open rear end 12 of the tube. The

' flowing water also vibrates the agitating member,

which prevents packing of the powder in the nozzle.

It will be seen that the greater the water pressure, the more rapidly the mixture of the powder contents with the water will take place. This pressure may be regulated by the cook or faucet to which the hose is attached. The rate of mixture as well as the rate of fiow may also be varied by adjustment of the hose nozzle, as the more rapidly the water flows through the aperture 15,

vided with an integral apertured boss portion 31 carried by the side wall thereof; the aperture, designated 32, extending through to the interior of the hose. In substantial alignment with the aperture 32 the wall of the tube 10 may be provided with an aperture 26. The aperture may if desired be initially formed as a knock-out section 25, which may be conveniently punched out whenever it is desired to use the extra powder contained in conjunction with the feeder in the short hose section 28. The additional powder container 27, which is shown as hopper-shaped, may be secured to the boss 31, in such manner that the contents thereof may flow or fall into the powder section 21 of the feeder. The auxiliary powder container may be provided with a water tight cap, as 33 The operation of the device when this accessory is attached will be obvious, the additional powder supply serving to augment. that contained in the portion 21 of the feeder tube, falling down thereinto and being carried forward by the water flowing through the tube which latter may or may not be initially filled with powder as well. The feeder tube may of course be used in the short hose section without using the extra powder container, in which event the knock-out section need not be removed, and the aperture 32 may be plugged to prevent leakage. The knock-out section 25 for forming the aperture 26 is preferably positioned substantially diametrically opposite the channel 13.

In Figure '7 I have shown a somewhat modified construction in which an enlarged powder containing section 121 is incorporated in a separate container, which forms the shell of the device and is designed to be coupled to the end of .a hose rather than inserted in it. It will be noted, however, that both embodiments of my invention are utilizable at either end of a hose, or in a pipe line, the herein contained references to their use upon the end of a hose being illustrative only. So also if two units be used, one at each end of a hose, for example, the spraying capacity can thereby be increased, for if the hose is first filled with clear water, it will, if the hose is of sufficient length, exhaust the powder from the unit at the nozzle end of the hose before the clear water is exhausted and the mixture from the farther unit reaches the nozzle.

The chamber 121 may be formed with a cap 134 fast upon its rear extremity, having an integral internally threaded depressed portion 135 formed therein and adapted to be secured to the hose coupling 109. an aperture 112 through the bottom of .the depression, to enable the exertion of full water pressure upon the rear surface of the powder within the container, while the only direct passage for water, except that which may percolate through the powder, is through the tube 113, which corresponds to the channel 13 in the embodiment previously described. A regulating funnel, as 117, may be inserted in and adjacent the forward extremity of the tube, its purpose being analogous to'the regulating funnel 17 of the first described embodiment. An agitating wire 122 may also be incorporated therein, in a similar manner to the agitator 22 previously described, and for the like purpose of preventing clogging in the funnel mouth. This wire may be secured to the cross wire 124 extending substantially diametrically across the rear extremity of the funnel, or a spider may be used for such purpose, which may alsoprovide additional support The end cap is formed with for the tube 113. A hose nozzle 120 may be secured to the forward extremity of the container 110, and the operation of the entire assembly will be seen to be similar to that of the first disclosed embodiment directly insertable in the hose itself.

In the embodiment first described the feeder may be filled through the open end 12 of the tube, while in the last embodiment the hole 112 serves a similar purpose, the depression 135 assisting the filling and serving as a funnel.

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiments of my invention herein disclosed are well calculated to adequately fulfill the objects and advantages primarily stated, it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a member through which fluid may flow, a container positioned partially in the path of fluid flowing therethrough and having an outlet opening adjacent its one end, a quantity of relatively finely divided material within the container, means for so applying part of the pressure of such a fluid flow as to relatively gradually force the material from said opening in the container, a by-pass passage through which fluid may be conducted to a point adjacent said opening in the container, and means for mixing with the by-passed fluid stream the material emerging from said opening, including a mixing chamber adjacent the outlet and a vibratory agitating member partly within the outlet and partly within the mixing chamber, actuated by the flow of fluid thru the mixing chamber and adapted to prevent clogging of the divided material within the outlet.

2. In combination with a fluid conducting passage, a container positionedpartially in the path of fluid flowing therethrough and having a reduced outlet opening therein, a quantity of relatively finely divided material within the container, means for so applying part of the pressure of such a fluid flow as to gradually force the material from said opening in the container, a.

by-pass passage through which fluid may be conducted to a point adjacent the outlet opening, an agitating member actuable by the flowing by passed water for preventing clogging of the material in the container adjacent said opening, and means for mixing with the by-passed fluid stream the material emerging therefrom.

3. An elongated substantially tubular powder container and feeder insertable in a water conduit and adapted to relatively gradually mix powder with the water, comprising a tubular container for powder creased along one side to provide a by-pass passage for water, and having an outlet adjacent its forward end, and a mixing chamber adjacent the outlet into which the latter discharges and into which the by-passed water is directed to be mixed with the powder before it flows from the hose.

4. A spraying apparatus comprising an elongated combined powder feeder and container insertable in a water conduit and having a reduced outlet aperture adjacent its one end, means whereby the pressure of water in the conduit urges the powder toward and from the outlet aperture, means whereby a portion of the water may be by-passed to a point adjacent the outlet aperture to mix with the powder emerging therefrom, and an agitating member actuatable by the by-passed water for preventing clogging of the powder at the outlet aperture.

5. In a spraying apparatus for use in conjunction with a supply of water under pressure, a combined powder container, feeder and mixer through which the water may flow, having an opening at its rear extremity to enable the exertion of water pressure upon its contents and an outlet aperture at its forward extremity toward which the powder may be urged by such water pressure, a channel through which water may be conducted to a point adjacent the outlet aperture, a mixing chamber adjacent the outlet within which such water may mix with powder emerging from the outlet aperture, means for preventing clogging of the powder adjacent the outlet aperture comprising an agitator partly within the container and extending from the outlet aperture, and a spraying nozzle positioned beyond said outlet.

6. An elongated powder container and feeder insertable in a hose to form two elongated chambers, one adapted to contain powder and having an outlet aperture adjacent its forward end, and through the other of which water may pass to a point adjacent the outlet aperture of the first, said powder chamber being open at the rear to the pressure of the water in the hose so that the latter urges its contents toward the outlet aperture, and a mixing chamber adjacent the outlet aperture into which the water conducting passage discharges, wherein the powder emerging from the outlet mixes with the water conducted through the water chamber, said water-conduct ing passage being arranged to discharge the bypassed water angularly into the mixing chamber,

'7. An elongated powder container and feeding device insertable in a water hose and having an outlet aperture therein, and means incorporated therein and controlled by a flow of water under pressure in the hose for urging powder contained in the device toward the outlet, a mixing chamber adjacent the outlet within which such powder may mix with the water stream, and an agitating member partly within the outlet and also actuatable by the water flow for preventing clogging of the powder.

8. In combination with a fluid conducting member, a container positioned in part of the path of fluid flowing therethrough and having an outlet opening therein opening in the same general direction as the fluid flow, a quantity of relatively finely divided material within the container, means for applying part of the fluid pressure to force such material from said opening in the container, and means for mixing with the fluid stream the material so emerging, including a mixing chamber adjacent the outlet and into which the latter discharges, and a bypass for conducting part of the fluid around the container, said by-pass discharging into the mixing chamber angularly with respect to the general direction of fluid flow through said mixing chamber.

9. An elongated powder container and feeding device insertable in a water hose, and means incorporated therein and actuated and controlled by a flow of water in the hose, for feeding powder contained in the device into water flowing in the hose, comprising a vibratory member partly within the container and projecting into the path of water flow.

FREDERICK R. MAURER. 

